Valentine's Day Placemats

This is a project I did when I was still spending most of the day laid up in bed. After Christmas, when Dollar Tree marked their Christmas items down to $.25, I picked up 4 bright red placemats. I picked up 4 because I was on a budget, and wanted to spend in even dollar amounts. I did not, in all my infinite wisdom, pick up on the subtle fact that we have 5 people in the family.

Because I was laid up at the time, I did not get back to DT for almost 2 weeks, and when I went, they still had Christmas stuff out, but were out of the red placemats. I did pick up 5 of the same placemat in white, though, for Easter.

Anyway, because I was in bed, there are no tutorial pictures, but it's easy enough.

 

 

You'll Need:

Felt
Scissors
Thread
Buttons, pom poms, or other embellishments
Placemats
Needle

1. Cut out shapes from the felt. Because I was doing Valentine's Day, I went with hearts. For Easter, I think I'll do eggs. 
2. Stitch a button to the center of the heart, if you are doing what I did. Otherwise, embellish the felt shape as you like.
3. Hand stitch the shape to the placemats. I did a primitive looking stitch, but you can do any type of stitch you want, obviously. You could also do this with a machine, if you are so inclined, but it was a fast job even by hand. 

Ta da! 3 easy steps, and you're done! I would estimate start to finish, it took me about 15 minutes per placemat, once I figured out what I wanted to do with them.

Total cost would depend on your On-Hand items. I had everything on hand once I decided to make these. I didn't have anyhting in mind for the placemats specifically when I picked them up, though. Breaking down the costs (cause, let's face it, you buy the supplies at some point, whether they are on hand or not), though, I spent $1 on 4 placemats. Thread- $1.99 for 1 roll, but I used very little. Buttons were bought in a big container for $4.99, probably close to 500 of them. So, a penny per button- $.04 for the buttons.

I had thought about adding some ribbon trim hand sewn on in loops and ruffles in the corners where the hearts were, but opted not to. Being 4 of them, I put the hearts in a different corner for each one. I did 2 pink and 2 white hearts, and used red thread on them.

 

Now, for something kind of funny... I have a red velvet (ish) stocking hanging above my desk. It's been there since probably late October, early November. I tend to forget it's there. Today, I did some much needed tidying around the desk, and saw a few picks I bought after Christmas at 90% off- all of them are in pinks, lavendars, and reds for Valentine's Day. Well, haven't come up with a use yet, so I decided to put the stocking to work as storage. I think it turned out cute:

 

 

Have a FANTASTIC weekend, everyone!! 

This post is linked up at the link parties listed here. 

Check back on Tuesday to link up with Talented Tuesdays at My Frugal Family!

Gold & Tacky to... Not Gold & Tacky

Last week, I found these gloriously tacky looking, gold plastic candle holders for the wall. They have a great design, but they're gold. Yes, really. Gold. Not like gold metal. More like fake, metallic-ish gold.

I immediatly wanted to spray paint and dry brush or glaze them. I'm not entirely certain if I'm happy with them, or if I want to redo them. Time will tell, and since they are for a room re-do that hasn't been redone yet, I have plenty of time to decide if I love them, or if they're getting another makeover.

They cost me all of $.29 each.

 

Painted Cherry Red- they were darker than these pictures turned out.

  

After dry brushing on black paint- it was too wet, and I added more than I had planned to.

 The pair

 

Held against the wall.

Like I said, I'm not sure if I'm in love with these or not. If I redo them, I'll likely go straight black, and add just a hit of a red glaze to them, instead of the dry brushing. I wanted the crevices to show black, but that didn't work out.

This post is linked up at the link parties listed here. 

Check back on Tuesday to link up with Talented Tuesdays at My Frugal Family!

Crafts in Recap, 2009

I'm relatively new to this whole blogging thing. While overall, I'm not new to crafting, I haven't crafted regularly in years before starting this blog. I was so impressed with all the wonderful blogs I've found, and with the ideas bouncing in my head, that I started back up.

Here are a few of my favorite projects for 2009. Each photo links to the post about the project, most of them with tutorials on how to make them!

 

 

 

Each project I've made has been fun, and I've learned how to do so many new things. I can't wait to see what 2009 brings me!

Santa Craft

A friend of mine posted this adorable Santa craft yesterday on Gather. Isn't it just the cutest?

For instructions on how Amanda made this little cutie, check out her post, Christmas Santa Ornaments

{Photo Credit: Amanda at Gather}

I love Power Tools

Seriously, power tools are great. Friday, I snuck off to my favorite destination for craft supplies- Dollar Tree. When I got there, I had nothing in mind. I was looking for inspiration more than anything. I found some cute little wooden (I use that term loosely, I think they are actually fiber board material) signs edged with glitter.

I put it in the cart with no real intentions in mind. As I continued to walk, I found a small 16-count pack of mini ornaments, and some red & gold jingle bells. I tossed them in as well. After I started looking at the sign, I thought about dangling strings from them, and threading the bells & ornaments on the string.

Once I had that project in mind, I was off in search of some fish line, which my DT did not have. Instead, I found clear "stretchy" plastic thread, made for jewelry. I picked it up, having never worked with it before.

I went ahead and got the project out last night, and started working on it. I had seriously forgotten all about the neat rotary tool my dad had gotten for me a few years ago for my birthday. I was contemplating just how to put holes in the sign without asking the neighbor for power tools.

At some point, though, I did recall the tool, and it came to my rescue. It's a small tool, with assorted tips, drill bits, and what have you. I measured out how close I wanted the holes, and how many I wanted, then braced it, and punched 5 holes in it, quick as can be. I love, love, love power tools that are small enough for me to easily handle. It's going to remain in my craft area for the time being, so I have it when I need it.

When I got started, it became very quickly apparent that the stretchy plastic thread was not going to work, so I gave up. When I opened the bells, I realized they were not individual bells, but rather, a bell garland. I played around with it, and attached it to the sign, but I'm not in love with it just yet.

I think before I finish, I'll pick up some fish string, and just go with the original idea. In the mean time, I'll keep playing around with it, and seeing if I find another design I like.

Check Me Out!

Today, my cute little kids Potholder Apron's have been featured on Dollar Store Crafts!

For all the new viewers who are popping in today from Dollar Store Crafts- Welcome! Here are a few links to some of my other Dollar Store craft projects I have done. I love frugal crafts, and right now, with Christmas coming up, I'm trying out lots of new things!

Also while you are here, I am holding a contest this week, so check it out and sign up if you are interested!

Dollar Store Wreath

Dollar Store Christmas Candle

Dollar Store Fingerless Gloves

$.23 Thanksgiving Place Setting Decorations!

Another Dollar Store Children's Apron & Fuzzy Arm Warmers

Dishtowel Angel

Crafty Wednesday!

Today, I hit the sewing machine almost right off the bat. It's amazing how much more productive I am when I actually sleep through the night. First up, I tested the instructions for making a child's apron out of a pot holder, & dishtowel.
 
This is a project I saw online for sale, and came up with the instructions based on the end product. It looked simple, and it turned out to be simple.

The only complaint I have with it, is that it is way too long with a full towel to use as a child sized apron. With the full size towel, it actually comes out as being long enough for an adult apron! It came to my knees, so it is not a good height for a toddler. Tomorrow, I plan to cut & hem the bottom of it, and turn the bottom part into a pocket for the apron. I think that will shorten it considerably.

Scroll down for photos of the steps.

Here is a copy of the instructions:
Child's Kitchen Apron
What You'll Need:

• 1 Kitchen Towel
• 1 Rectangular Pot Holder
• 1 Spool of Ribbon
• Sewing Machine or needle
• Thread

1. Clip the loop off the pot holder, if there is one.
2. Take into account the child's height, then decide whether you want the towel to hang length wise, or sideways, depending on how tall or short the child is. Once you have decided, sew the pot holder onto the top edge, in the middle. The ends do not have to be bunched or gathered, they remain flat.
3. Once you have the pot holder sewn on, cut a length of ribbon long enough to loop over the child's head, or create two lengths that can be tied around the neck. Sew the two ends to the upper corners of the pot holder.
4. Sew two lengths of ribbon to the top corners of the towel, to tie around the child's waist. If you choose to make a sideways apron, you may want to fold the top corners down, and stitch the corner down before sewing ribbons on, to make it shorter around the waist. With smaller children, the apron might be too wide to tie around the waist at full length.
5. To keep the ribbon from fraying, you can coat the ends in clear nail polish, or fold it over and sew the ends.

To add to this, here are some steps to take to avoid a too large for the child!

• Measure the child, hold the pot holder up to about arm pit level for the top. Measure from the bottom of the pot holder to the child's knees. That's how long you want the towel. Leave an extra half inch in length.
• Cut the towel so that the pattern you want is able to be used. If you have to cut the bottom hem, make sure to hem the edge again.

Overall, it came out cute. I used a pot holder that has a pocket in it (for what, I don't know- the top material is way too thin to use without the bottom portion as well). I sewed it so the pocket was face up, so the child can make some use of it.







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My next project was a spur of the minute project. Today, I found a frugal deal on WII games at Target, and mentioned it to Nick, who was of course, in love with the idea. We decided to meet up for lunch, and in doing so, we went to the Target near his work, which has the added bonus of being right near my favorite Dollar Store location. I don't usually go there, it's a 40 minute drive to that store, so unless I'm over there, I don't stop by.

Back to my next project. Yesterday, I found a new blog, Obsessively Stitching, which is a sewing blog, mostly. The owner found a super soft fleece scarf at Dollar Tree, and turned it into a pair of leg warmers for her baby daughter. In the tutorial, she shows the warmer off on  her arm, which got me thinking of soft, fuzzy fleece arm warmers to ward off the cold Michigan winter. Only, my Dollar Tree didn't stock those scarves! Sadness.

Today, Nick and I stopped at the DT near him, though, and glorious! They had them! They had 4 different colors: lavender & gray, gray & white, gray & black, and black & white. I picked up the black   white, and the lavender   gray scarves. Tonight when I got home, I immediately set out for the sewing machine. These took a little work on getting them tight enough. While the scarf was skinny, it was stretchy, so when I made the first one, I had to go back over a line and make it skinnier to account for the amount of stretch.

What it left me with, though, is a gloriously fuzzy pair of arm warmers to help get me through the winter. I cut a thumb hole, and left enough length to cover my fingers to the knuckles. I'm actually typing with them right now! 

Fuzzy Dollar Store Armwarmers

What You'll Need:

• One Fuzzy Dollar Tree Scarf
• Sewing Machine
• Scissors

Total Cost: $1
Scroll down for photos of the project.

What To Do:

1. Fold the scarf in half, and cut it into 2 pieces. Take each half, and repeat the process, so you have 4 identical length sections.
2. Match the lengths up- two halves will have a serged end, with 1 color longer than the other stripes. Those are the two very end pieces, and for me, they matched up perfectly, stripe to stripe. The other two pieces will be lacking the serged end, and will also match up perfectly.
3. You can pin the halves together if you want, but I didn't. They're so short, and the fabric clings together, that it wasn't a problem sewing it without the pins. Sew a straight line down 1 side, to make 1 wide section.
4. Now, after doing that, unfold it, and take the un-serged ends, and just sew a straight line across. This is more to keep it from unraveling than anything.
5. Once that's done, fold it again, and sew a straight line down the other side. Keep it loose to start, then try it on. If it feels loose, just sew another straight line in about half an inch. Keep at it until you get a good fit.
6. Repeat with the second pair of scarves, and you have 2!

1. I cut a thumb hole into both of my arm warmers, but that's optional. I found a spot for my thumb that left the warmer enough length to go down my fingers to help keep my hands warm, then I pulled at the seam, and cut it apart.
2. Turn it right side out, and you are all set!

I get cold really easily. As I sit here, my toes are freezing, but my hands are nice and warm. I tried the pre-made gloves last year that don't have fingertips, and they just were never comfortable for me. I think I like these much better!

Have you done anything crafty lately? Feel free to share it with us!

I Am In Love...

Tonight, yet another sleepless night in the life of an insomniac, I remembered a website I had found over a year ago. I couldn't remember the name, of course, but I remember what I found there. It was a website for crafters that holds monthly challenges.

One of the monthly challenges, my favorite, was to make something totally unique out of $10 of supplies bought only at a dollar store. I was amazed at some of the really cool ideas there were, and how totally cool the items turned out.

One woman bought some fleece scarves, and some squishy teddy bears, and turned them into an awesome, fur lined, totally wearable hoodie. Another woman made a replica of Scarlett O'Hara's green & white picnic gown out of a hula hoop, foam pool noodle, garden stakes, plastic table clothes, and coffee filters.

For the really handy with a sewing machine people out there, here's an absolutely adorable, one of a kind doll. Do you know someone who collects snow globes?Here's an idea on how to make one from an Ivy Bowl, a rubber sink stopper, some glitter, and some inserts.

There were just some amazing entries into the contest, which can all be seen here. While I was locating it, I found they had done another dollar store challenge for $5 or under. Not all of the images are still there, as the post is several years old, but it does have some interesting ideas on crafts that can be made cheap using dollar store items.

Also in my search, I found a website called Dollar Store Crafts, which has some really cool ideas for inexpensive, easy to make crafts- again, featuring items found at the dollar store. Here are some of the fun ideas I noticed right away:

Starburst Mirror
A Pocket Advent Calendar- This one is SO easy, and a FUN thing to send to your college kid, or give to a friend!
$.50 Stuffed Chipmunk- As a side note, Walmart sells the Magic Gloves used for this project at 2 pairs for $1.50, so it would make 4 chipmunks for roughly $.37 each.
Mosaic Headboard
Bandanna Quilt- SO simple & easy- if you can sew a straight line, you can make this!

Both sites are simply amazing, and provide endless hours (yes hours!) of craft ideas out of every day, normal, CHEAP items!

I hope you take a while to peruse both sites, because for the crafty among us can find a lot of awesome ideas to use for making Christmas gifts this year. I plan to tackle the Bandanna Quilt soon. The things people come up with just by walking the aisles of Dollar Tree are simply
amazing. The actual websites are:

http://www.craftster.org
http://dollarstorecrafts.com

Kids & Crafts- Making a Craft Kit

Crafts can be an easy and fun way to spend time together as a family, to make inexpensive decorations, and to keep kids busy. With winter coming up, the chance of an unexpected day stuck inside is pretty good. Craft time can fill those snow days up nicely, and allow you to make gifts for the holidays.

It's always a great idea to keep a small box filled with some craft items that can be used on the spur of the moment. I have a small tub that I keep stocked with basic items, and some not so basic items, if the price is right. Here are my recommendations for a kid friendly craft kit.

Foam- shapes, sheets, or items made of foam. You can find many good foam items at Dollar Tree. Craft stores are also a great source for foam items. Michaels & Hobby Lobby regularly put foam kits on sale cheap, so pick one or two up when you find them at a good price. Walmart carries these, as well, and after a major holiday, the holiday kits go on clearance.

Felt- Sheets of felt can be found for around $.25 each, sometimes cheaper.

Pipe Cleaners- an assortment of colors can be used to make all sorts of things, from ornaments & napkin rings, to animals. Dollar Tree carries these as well.

Construction Paper

Scissors

Glue- I recommend a hot glue gun & glue sticks (to be used with adult supervision!), as well as Tacky Glue, and plain old white glue & glue sticks.

Markers, Crayons, & Colored Pencils for drawing- I pick these up when they are super cheap during Back to School sales!

All of these items alone can make plenty of fun craft projects, and you have something on hand for rainy, snowy, yucky days, when the kids are driving you nuts! To store all of these items, I get a small tub, big enough to fit the construction paper, and deep. You can use a pencil box to store the smaller items.

Picking up one or two things here and there can make it a cheap way to fill a box for a day of fun! And always remember- Freecycle, ReUseIt, Craigslist, and 2nd Hand Stores can make for a great place to find some cheap supplies!

Here are some additional items that you can pick up cheap to add into your Craft Kit.

Glitter
Jingle Bells
Hole Punch
Ruler
Stapler
Tape
Beads
Spangles- these are the foil shapes similar to sequins, but usually larger
Sequins
Buttons
Paint
Paint brushes
Feathers

There are a lot of items you can use around the house- egg cartons, foam meat trays (my store swapped to plastic, but either works good, if you wash it really well), cardboard boxes (you can use the boxes from cereal, mac n cheese, or anything else that comes in a box, as well!), the metal lid to frozen juice concentrate containers- there are plenty of things found just in the kitchen that can become a great craft item, instead of another landfill item! Feel free to add your own ideas in the comment section!

Good luck with your own craft kit!

Thanksgiving Kids Crafts

These are more of those craft ideas that can help keep little hands busy while the adults make their Thanksgiving Feast. It would also make for a fun school craft while talking about Thanksgiving.

Harvest Necklace

What You'll Need:
Thread or Fishing line
Needle
Cheerios
Dried Fruit- Raisins, Apricots, Apples, Cranberries, etc
Popped Corn

This is a simple project, just stringing things on a thread. Set each child up with a length of thread or fishing line, knotted on one end, and threaded through a needle on the other side.

Let the kids do an assortment or pattern of the foods provided on the thread. When it's close to full, take it off the needle, and tie together like a necklace for the kids to wear, and snack on!

Candy Cornucopia

What You'll Need:
Sugar Waffle Cones
Fruit Shaped Candies or cereal or Nuts & Dried Fruit
Decorating frosting with a writing tip

Have the kids or an adult write their names on the side of the waffle cone. Once it's dried, let the kids scoop some candies or dried fruit & nuts into the cone for their own cornucopia Thanksgiving treat!

Thumbprint Turkey Placecards

What You'll Need:
Ink pads in various fall colors- browns, golds, oranges, reds, and yellows
Black & Red Marker
Construction Paper or Card Stock

• Press a thumb into the inkpad and then on paper to print a turkey's body. Use the same technique with fingertips to create a head and feathers.

• Use markers to add a beak, wattle and feet.

• Complete the cards by writing in guests' names

Most of all- have fun, and enjoy your upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday!

Thanksgiving Turkey Treat Holder

Once Halloween passes, it's all too easy to rush right past Thanksgiving, and zoom towards Christmas. Planning, decorating, shopping... it can take over! Thanksgiving is a holiday rich in tradition, and family. Here is a craft idea I found online today, that I think would make for a fun weekend project. It would be inexpensive, and would make for a fun addition to any Thanksgiving table this November!

Turkey Treat Holder

What You'll Need:
Small Terra Cotta Pots- probably votive candle sized.
Sheets of foam or felt in red, yellow, orange, & brown
Googly eyes
Glue
Candy

• Start by cutting 5 "feather" shapes from the red, yellow, & orange colored foam or felt. You'll want an assortment, with 5 total 'feathers'.
• Cut a heart shape from the red foam or felt, and a small triangle from the orange felt or foam.
• Next, cut a long oval from the brown foam or felt. This will be your turkey's head.
• Glue the googly eyes in place on the head, near one end. Glue the orange triangle just below it, with one of the points aiming towards the side.
• Glue the heart onto the bottom of the pot, so that the two rounded humps stick out like feet.
• Glue the feathers into place on the back, over lapping them from the center outward in a fan shape.
• Once the eyes & beak are dry, glue the head onto the front of the pot.
• When the turkey is completely dry, fill with candy, and set them out.
  

If you are having a large gathering, these would make for a good craft to keep the younger group busy while the adults make the meals.

Halloween Treat Containers

With Halloween knocking on the door, here are a few fun Halloween crafts to do with the kids this year.

**Make sure which ever container you use, that you wash it out thoroughly with hot soapy water, prior to use!!

Pumpkin Treat Carton- Craft found originally at DLTK's Crafts, though I changed it around a bit.

What You'll Need:

• 1/2 gallon milk container, or a 2 liter bottle of soda, empty
• Orange, Black, & Green Construction Paper.
• Glue or Tape
• Scissors
• Stapler if you have one.
  

What To Do:

1. Cut the top portion off the milk jug or 2 liter, starting 1" below where the walls curve inward near the top.
   
2. Cut a 1" straight strip from the top- this will be used as a carrying handle.
3. If you have a stapler, use it to staple the plastic strip to the top, creating a carrying handle. If you do not have a stapler, cut a horizontal slit just below the top edge of the carton, one on both sides, just wide enough to slide the strap into. Slide the strap into from the outside, then use tape or glue to secure the ends to the inside of the carton. Let the glue dry before moving on, if you used glue.
   
4. Using Orange construction paper, cover the entire outside of the container, securing the paper with either tape or glue to the carton.

1. Fold the green construction paper to wrap around the handle, securing it with tape or glue. Cut some leaf shapes, and a stem, and glue it to the top of the front of the container, where the face will go.
2. Cut a Jack O'Lantern face with the black construction paper, and glue it to the front.
3. You have a cute container for passing out treats, or for Trick or Treating!

Bat Treat Container- Again, this was found at DLTK's Crafts, and adapted. This is pretty much the same as the one above, just decorated as a bat, instead of a Pumpkin.

What You'll Need-

• 1/2 gallon milk container, or a 2 liter bottle of soda, empty
• Black & White, yellow, or purple Construction Paper.
• Glue or Tape
• Scissors
• Stapler if you have one.

What To Do-

1. Cut the top portion off the milk jug or 2 liter, starting 1" below where the walls curve inward near the top.
   
2. Cut a 1" straight strip from the top- this will be used as a carrying handle.
3. If you have a stapler, use it to staple the plastic strip to the top, creating a carrying handle. If you do not have a stapler, cut a horizontal slit just below the top edge of the carton, one on both sides, just wide enough to slide the strap into. Slide the strap into from the outside, then use tape or glue to secure the ends to the inside of the carton. Let the glue dry before moving on, if you used glue.
4. Using Black construction paper, cover the entire outside of the container, securing the paper with either tape or glue to the carton.
5. Fold more black construction paper to wrap around the handle, securing it with tape or glue. Cut some wing shapes, and glue it to the back of the container.
6. Cut a Bat face with the white, yellow, or purple construction paper, and glue it to the front.
7. You have a cute container for passing out treats, or for Trick or Treating!

Thanksgiving Treats

Thanksgiving is coming faster than I anticipated. Already, I'm looking forward to the lazy day at home with Nick and the kiddos, a warm house, food on the table, and the parade on TV while Nick and I make a wonderful Turkey dinner.

One thing I plan to do this year with the kids, is make some edible Turkey's out of cookies and candy. They're super adorable, and the kids will love them! We've never tried them before, but they look super easy to make.

What you will need:

• Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, or Oreo style sandwich cookies
• Candy Corn
• Chocolate frosting
• Hershey’s Whoppers
• Mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cups
• White tubed frosting

First, you take the cookie, and 6 pieces of candy corn, and insert them into the sandwich frosting, tip first, so that it creates a tail fan.

Next, take the frosting, peanut butter cup, and whopper, and let's make a body. Unwrap the peanut butter cup (actually unwrap two- one to use, one to eat), and turn it on it's side. Smear a bit of frosting onto the top, and press the whopper into it.

From there, you will want to use the white frosting to create two eyes, and a small mouth on the milk ball- you'll want the smaller flat side of the peanut butter cup facing outward.

From there, cover the larger flat side of the PB Cup with more frosting, and press it onto the cookie, towards the bottom away from the tail fan. Use a second cookie to lay flat, and use frosting to secure the bird to the bottom cookie, so it has a 'stand'.

You can play around with other items- some people break the tip of a candy corn off, and use it for a beak on the whopper for the turkey.


For the next treat, you will want:

• Round, baked sugar cookies
• Chocolate or Vanilla Frosting
• M&M Mini's
• Orange tubed frosting

Frost a rainbow type arch along one side of the cookie, and start laying out candy corn on it, to create a tail fan- these can either stick out past the cookie, or be completely on the cookie.

Using more frosting, secure 2 M&M Mini's in the middle to use as eyes.

With the orange tubed frosting, use the small round piping head, and pipe on two feet, and you have adorable Turkey sugar cookies for Thanksgiving!